WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - West Haven police arrest seven people in connection with a cockfighting event discovered over the weekend.
Police received a report around 6:50 p.m. that an illegal cockfighting event was taking place at a building in the 200 block of Front Avenue.
As police arrived, they encountered well over 100 people inside the building gathered around what appeared to be a makeshift wooden cockfighting ring.
When officers entered, many of the individuals seated around this makeshift ring, along with bystanders, began fleeing the building.
However, officers were able to apprehend seven individuals involved.
Inside the makeshift ring, officers observed loose feathers, chicken spurs, blood spatter, and other evidence.
West Haven Animal Control Officers were called to the scene where they were able to seize over 30 live roosters and several dead roosters.
Police have arrested Jose Jiminez- Ortiz, 62, of New Britain, Samual Santiago, 49, of Hamden, Jesus Ventura-Reyes, 40, of Brooklyn, NY, Luciano Ramos, 60, of Newburgh, NY, Kelvin Quituizaca-Martinez, 32, of Middletown, NY, and Andrade Catana, 52, of New Windsor, NYC on cruelty to animals, illegal use of an animal for fighting, and interfering with an officer charges.
Jose Gonzalez, 58, of West Haven, has been charged with cruelty to animals and illegal use of an animal for fighting.